Affect and mathematical competence are each multifaceted constructs. Accordingly, the studies in this Special Issue address multiple pathways between the two in young children. This commentary highlights the variability of these pathways and asks how affective variables are specifically related to core mathematical activities such as problem…

A theoretical model and methodology is presented that allows the path or trajectory of an individual's emotional experience during problem solving to be depicted and empirically studied. The trajectory of one's emotional experience reveals how well the individual copes with the frustration of problem solving by indicating how quickly recovery…

Joins an affective system of representation with several cognitive representational systems to try to construct a realistic model for problem solving competence. Discusses two major affective pathways, one favorable and one unfavorable, together with conjectured relationships between affective states and useful or counterproductive heuristic…

Discusses how business teachers can get students to stay in school and learn problem solving in context with teaching basic business knowledge and information processing and computer skills. (JOW)

This paper, which analyzes the evaluative aspect of affectivity, argues that the functional internalization of organic evolution for the formation of the intellectual system of human beings required that some means of selecting behavioral variations be devised, and that the selective mechanism devised was the affective system. From this…

The recent history of environmental advocacy is reviewed. Issues and conflicts entering into environmental advocacy considerations are discussed. Specific strategies for effective environmental advocacy are prescribed. (RE)

Maintains that, rather than simply assuming patience is a virtue, early childhood teachers can use feelings of patience or impatience as cues to examine their expectations and alter their situation so that they can respond in supportive, appropriate, effective, and educational ways. (BB)

This paper discusses the meaning and formation of children's play in order to (1) deepen understanding and respect for what play is, (2) demonstrate how young children cannot thrive or survive without play, and (3) give a common framework for interpreting and deriving meaning from the play behavior that occurs in the daily lives of young children.…

Interpretations of the differences between the African American child and the Caucasian child in North America follow two major trends. In one the differences in the African American child are viewed as deviance from the Euro-American norm and therefore inferior or pathological. In the other, the differences are viewed as deviant but adaptive…